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Paines Plough has unveiled its 2025 programming, featuring two major new productions set to tour the UK.

The announcement follows the company’s 50th-anniversary fundraising gala at the Criterion Theatre, where its “50 for 50” campaign reaffirmed a commitment to championing new writing for the next half-century.

Consumed by Karis Kelly, winner of the Women’s Prize for Playwriting, will be staged in collaboration with Belgrade Theatre, Sheffield Theatres, and the Women’s Prize for Playwriting. Directed by Paines Plough Joint Artistic Director Katie Posner, the play is a darkly comic exploration of generational trauma and family dynamics. Set during a fraught 90th birthday gathering, it brings together four generations of Northern Irish women under one roof, uncovering buried secrets and tensions. The production will debut at Belgrade Theatre and Sheffield Theatres, with additional tour dates to be announced.

Also featured in the 2025 season is Ordinary Decent Criminal, a new play by Ed Edwards, performed by acclaimed political comedian Mark Thomas. This gripping drama, which examines the impact of the 1990s prison system on contemporary society, sees Thomas take on the role of recovering addict Frankie as he navigates a radical prison experiment. Directed by Paines Plough Joint Artistic Director Charlotte Bennett, the production will premiere at Live Theatre Newcastle, with further tour dates to follow. The play is a co-production between Paines Plough, Live Theatre, Theatre Royal Plymouth, and Ellie Keel Productions, in association with Synergy Theatre Project.

Commenting on the new season, Posner and Bennett said: “It’s a massive pleasure to be bringing two new plays on tour this year with Paines Plough. They’re two pitch-black and hilarious stories of love and revolt. Both bring the conflicts of our past straight home to our present. Both go straight for the jugular.” They also expressed their excitement in supporting another Women’s Prize for Playwriting winner and reuniting with Mark Thomas and Ed Edwards after their previous collaboration, England & Son.

The new season follows the success of Paines Plough’s previous productions, including My Mother’s Funeral: The Show by Kelly Jones, which completed its critically acclaimed run in New York and London, and Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe, a sell-out hit at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe. The company is also preparing for its upcoming production Shanghai Dolls by Amy Ng, produced by Kiln Theatre in association with Paines Plough and directed by Posner.

In addition to its productions, Paines Plough continues to nurture emerging talent through its Tour the Writer development programme, now in its third year, working with seven partner venues across the UK to support new voices in playwriting.

As part of the ongoing 50 for 50 campaign, the company has launched the Supporters Circle, led by playwrights James Graham and Nick Payne, aiming to recruit 50 patrons to pledge support for the next three years.

Paines Plough has also announced an exclusive auction for a personalised One Page Play by acclaimed playwrights including Mike Bartlett, Chris Bush, Dennis Kelly, Simon Stephens, and Roy Williams. Proceeds from the auction will go towards funding future new writing initiatives.

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Main photo: Charlotte Bennett and Katie Posner - Joint Artistic Directors of Paines Plough (Credit Rebecca Need-Menear)

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